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Sony upgrade cheaper than predecessor

Sony hopes to launch the new PlayStation worldwide at the same time, avoiding the loss of potential sales that resulted from the split launch of PS3Bloomberg/Getty Images

When Sony unveils its new PlayStation device this week, it will be far cheaper than many experts had expected — a price tag that, it is hoped, will lure millions of customers into buying its latest video games console.

Industry sources and leaked internal documents suggest that Sony is considering pricing the new device at about £300, more than £100 cheaper than the starting cost of its predecessor, the PlayStation 3.

The Japanese electronics giant will unveil its latest console, expected to be called PlayStation 4 or “Orbis”, the codename for the machine at its Tokyo headquarters, at a special event in New York on Wednesday.

The device is expected to contain a number of new features, such as a controller with a touchscreen, the…